Journal of Environmental and Occupational Science
www.jenvos.com
Original Research
DOI: 10.5455/jeos.20170120094512
A study of airborne fungal allergens
in sandstorm dust in Al-Zuli, central
region of Saudi Arabia
Rajendran Vijayakumar1, Mohammad Saleh Al-Aboody1,
Wael Alturaiki1, Suliman A. Alsagaby1, Tim Sandle2
1
Department of Medical
Laboratories, Central
Biosciences Research
Laboratories, College
of Science in Al-Zulfi,
Majmaah University,
Al Majmaah, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, 2Department
of Microbiology, Bio
Products Laboratory,
Elstree, Hertfordshire,
United Kingdom
Address for correspondence:
Rajendran Vijayakumar,
Department of Medical
Laboratories, Central
Biosciences Research
Laboratories, College of
Science in Al-Zulfi, Majmaah
University, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia. E-mail: v.kumar@
mu.edu.sa
Received: December 03, 2016
Accepted: December 21, 2016
Published: April 09, 2017
ABSTRACT
Background: The impact of sandstorm dust events on local air quality and public health are becoming a
greater concern in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Among sandstorm dust particles, airborne fungal spores cause
serious respiratory ailments to those who are exposed to the dust. Although the study of dust storm material
has attracted research interest, little work has been carried out in Saudi Arabia and no major study has been
conducted in the Al-Zulfi, Riyadh province region. Hence, the aim of the study was to investigate airborne fungal
allergen concentrations in sandstorm dust in the Al-Zulfi city, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: During
the study period, 12 sandstorm dust samples and 3 control samples were collected from various locations
(educational campus, people gathering, and recreational places) by gravitational plate exposure method
using Sabouraud dextrose agar. Following incubation, the fungal colonies were identified by microscopic and
morphological identification. Results: A total of 2590 fungal isolates were identified among 36 exposures
of sandstorm dust samples. From the samples dematiaceous fungi and hyaline fungi were observed, divided
56.2%, 43.8%, respectively. The incidences of predominant fungal genera were Fusarium (21%), Cladosporium
(15.8%), Ulocladium (11.1%), Aspergillus (10.9%), and Alternaria (8.6%). Conclusion: Our observations infer
that some of the most important allergenic fungal spores are predominantly observed in sandstorm dust
samples and incidences of dematiaceous fungi are higher than hyaline fungi. This study highlights the need
for precautionary safety measures to protect the public against sandstorm dust exposures.
KEY WORDS: Alternaria, air sampling, Cladosporium, dust, fungal allergens, Fusarium, sandstorm, settle plate
INTRODUCTION
Sandstorms, also called dust storms, occur frequently and
periodically under the strong winds which blow dust across
the dry deserts around the globe, especially in the Middle East.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is the largest country in
the region and it constitutes the vast majority of the Arabian
Peninsula. Most the land surface is made up of deserts and semiarid lands. Based on its topography and condition of drought,
light textured topsoil, and scanty vegetative cover much of the
region and thus the KSA is highly susceptible to sandstorm
dust. Sandstorm episodes in the deserts of KSA are seasonal,
with the majority of atmospheric transport occurring within
the February to May months [1]. Notwithstanding this seasonal
pattern, a significant increase in frequency and the intensity of
sand and dust storms has been observed in the Middle East over
the past 15 years [2]. In addition to the KSA and Middle East
countries, all sandstorms facilitate the long-distance dispersal
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of dust-associated biological particles includes bacteria, fungi,
and viruses, and it is not uncommon for these organisms to be
carried across several continents [3]. According to the WHO,
dust storms contribute to poor air quality and this is attributed
to the death of around 7 million people every year [4]. A
proportion of these deaths will relate to fungi; there are several
thousand of types of fungal spores found in both indoor and
outdoor environments including sand dust; moreover, as well
as species diversity, a significantly high number (around 106)
of spores are found in sandstorm dust [1,5].
The medical risk to human health arises from the fungi
associated with sandstorm dust producing metabolites
(mycotoxins) that can initiate a toxic response to humans.
Here repeated exposure causes respiratory irritation or allergic
sensitization [1,6]. Inhalation exposure of fungal spore and
hyphal fragments can cause allergic, infectious, and toxic
diseases to humans. Infants, children, and elderly people with
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Vijayakumar, et al.: Airborne fungal allergens in sandstorm dust
respiratory conditions are more vulnerable compared with the
general population [7,8]. Prolonged exposure to airborne dust
fungi can lead to chronic breathing and lung problems, and
possibly heart disease.
As medical understanding advances, the impact of severe
sandstorm dust events on local air quality and public health
have become of greater concern in the KSA in recent years.
Although the study of dust storm material has attracted many
researchers globally, little work has been undertaken in the
KSA [7,9]. Furthermore, there has been no published work
performed in relation to the central region of the Arabian Desert.
Hence, the aim of this work was to isolate fungal allergens in
sandstorm dust and analyze the incidence of allergens in the
central region of KSA.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Site
Al-Zulfi is a city in Riyadh province in the central desert region
of the KSA, about 260 kilometers northwest of Riyadh. Al-Zulfi
lies in the northern-central region of the Najd and to the south
of the Samnan Valley. The city surrounded by sand dunes to its
north and west, which are known locally as the Al-Thoyr Sands.
This study was conducted at the various places of Al-Zulfi,
including the educational campus (College of Science, AlZulfi), an area with a high population density (Zulfi Dates
market) and a recreational place (Zulfi West – City view).
Samples were taken during sandstorms and during periods when
no sandstorms were occurring.
based on macroscopic and microscopic morphology following
the keys and description given by Samson et al., Lalitha et al.,
and Vijayakumar et al., [13-15]. To compare the fungal counts
with a non-sandstorm episode (to act as a control), the same
procedure was followed and samples collected for one period
under non-sandstorm conditions.
The significance of the incidences of fungal allergens, among
the various sampling locations, was analyzed using Student’s
t-test, a P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
RESULTS
During the study period, 12 sandstorm dust sample sets were
collected. These consisted of six sets from the educational
campus; three sets from the people gathering area (Zulfi
dates market); three sets from Zulfi city – west view location
[Figure 1]. Triplicate samples were taken for each sample set
and a total of 2590 fungal colonies were observed from the
36 exposed plates. In addition, from the educational campus
during non-sandstorm conditions a total 3 samples (9 exposures)
were collected (during the daytime). All samples taken are listed
in Table 1.
The total fungal colonies observed from the educational campus
ranged from 12 to 87 CFU/plate. In the people gathering area
significantly higher levels of fungi were recorded compared
with the educational campus (P = 0.032). With the three sets
(9 exposures) performed in the Zulfi dates market area, all
samples were collected during busy periods such as 4-6 pm. With
these samples, the range of mold colonies was 87-131 CFU/plate.
A further 9 exposures were performed in the Zulfi city west view
Sampling Methods
Sampling was undertaken by a passive air sampling method
(settle plates, where fungal spores are capture by gravitational
deposition). This was performed using agar-filled Petri dishes
exposed at a 1-m height from the surface [10]. Each Petri
dish contained (90 mm diameter) Sabouraud dextrose agar
(SDA) (sometimes described as Sabouraud glucose agar)
(Himedia, India). SDA is an agar especially formulated, through
the inclusion of peptones, for the isolation and growth of
dermatophytes and other types of fungi [11].
A total of 12 sandstorm episodes occurred during the study
period, from the beginning of February 2016 to the end of May
2016. During each sandstorm, one of the identified locales
was sampled and for each sampling location triplicate SDA
plates were exposed (in total 36 samples were taken across
the course of the study). The metrological parameters such as
temperature and wind speed were recorded (obtained from an
internet source) [12]. After sampling, the plates were incubated
at 20-25°C for 6-8 days. The total fungal colonies were counted
and recorded on the 2nd or 3rd day of incubation, and then,
at the end of incubation. For further species identification,
fungal colonies were subcultured to a second SDA plate and
then incubated for 5-7 days. Fungal identification performed
28
a
b
Figure 1: The impact of sandstorm over the Al-Zuli city, (a) Clear
atmospheric condition on March 22, 2016, and (b) sandstorm episode
on March 27, 2016
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Vijayakumar, et al.: Airborne fungal allergens in sandstorm dust
area and these showed a range of 34-110 CFU/plate. Control
samples (9 exposures) were collected from the next day after
a sandstorm had occurred (that is non-sandstorm conditions
with an observable clear sky); here all plates showed less than
15 CFU/plate [Table 1].
The total of 2590 fungi isolated from the 36 exposures of
sandstorm dust samples is listed in Table 2. Based on a
microscopic and macroscopic morphological identification of
the fungi, 13 different genera of fungi were identified from the
isolates. The predominant colonies were species of Fusarium
(21%) followed by Cladosporium, Ulocladium, Aspergillus,
Alternaria, and Penicillium (15.8%, 11.1%, 10.9%, 8.6%, and
7.3%, respectively). The totality of dematiaceous fungi isolated
(56.2%) was greater than hyaline fungi (43.8%) (P < 0.0001). A
proportion of the fungi (9.3%) could not be identified due to a
lack of sporulation. These have been reported as “unidentified
dematiaceous” and “hyaline fungi,” respectively. The ranking
of incidence of fungi and their pathogenicity to cause allergic
diseases (based on comparable with worldwide reports) are
listed in Table 3.
DISCUSSION
A significant increase in the frequency and the intensity of
sand and dust storms has been observed in the Middle East
Table 1: Total number of fungal colonies observed from the exposed sandstorm dust samples
Sample ID
Description
Temperature/Wind
Number of fungal colonies (CFU/plate)
S1
Sandstorm samples
SS 1
SS 2
SS 3
SS 4
SS 5
SS 6
SS 7
SS 8
SS 9
SS 10
SS 11
SS 12
Control samples (non‑sandstorm)
NS 1
NS 2
NS 3
S2
S3
Arithmetic mean
Geometric mean
Educational campus
Educational campus
Educational campus
Educational campus
Educational campus
Educational campus
Zulfi Dates Market
Zulfi Dates Market
Zulfi Dates Market
Zulfi – City view (East)
Zulfi – City view (East)
Zulfi – City view (East)
38°C; 42 km/h
35°C; 35 km/h
31°C; 28 km/h
35°C; 19 km/h
30°C; 31 km/h
37°C; 28 km/h
27°C, 40 km/h
28°C, 8 km/h
31°C; 22 km/h
38°C; 42 km/h
30°C; 32 km/h
32°C; 28 km/h
76
27
36
12
62
82
107
116
87
91
110
34
83
48
39
21
74
69
121
128
95
94
88
38
56
32
28
28
87
76
115
131
96
67
96
40
71.67
35.67
34.33
20.33
74.33
75.67
114.33
125.00
92.67
84.00
98.00
37.33
70.69
34.61
34.00
19.18
73.63
75.48
114.19
124.83
92.58
83.06
97.58
37.25
Educational campus
Zulfi Dates Market
Zulfi – City view (East)
33°C; 12 km/h
35°C; 10 km/h
34°C; 13 km/h
2
6
6
4
8
12
3
11
14
3.00
8.33
10.67
2.88
8.08
10.03
Total
2590
215
107
103
61
223
227
343
375
278
252
294
112
66
9
25
32
S1: Exposed plate 1, S2: Exposed plate 2, S3: Exposed plate 3
Table 2: Total number and distribution of molds from the each sample
Name of the organism
SS 1
SS 2
SS 3
SS 4
SS 5
SS 6
SS 7
SS 8
SS 9
SS 10
SS 11
SS 12
Total (%)
35
17
19
8
19
8
12
118
16
8
10
3
10
4
7
58
16
7
10
4
7
3
8
55
10
3
7
2
6
3
4
35
34
15
20
7
25
11
14
126
37
12
21
9
28
9
13
129
52
31
30
12
41
14
15
195
65
27
31
14
40
15
20
212
40
18
24
11
31
11
21
156
39
16
19
10
28
11
17
140
47
16
24
12
39
11
18
167
18
7
9
4
14
4
8
64
409 (15.8)
177 (6.8)
224 (8.6)
96 (3.7)
288 (11.1)
104 (4.0)
157 (6.1)
1455 (56.2)
47
8
6
4
4
15
1
0
1
1
10
97
215
24
4
3
2
2
7
0
0
1
0
6
49
107
21
6
3
2
1
9
0
1
0
0
5
48
103
15
2
2
1
0
5
0
0
0
0
1
26
61
47
9
7
6
4
16
1
1
1
1
4
97
223
50
7
7
3
3
17
0
1
1
1
8
98
227
61
15
14
7
7
25
2
1
1
2
13
148
343
80
16
12
8
6
27
2
2
2
1
7
163
375
60
11
9
6
5
20
1
0
1
1
8
122
278
51
9
8
6
4
18
2
1
1
1
11
112
252
63
12
9
5
6
21
2
0
2
1
6
127
294
24
4
3
2
1
8
0
0
1
0
5
48
112
543 (21.0)
103 (4.0)
83 (3.2)
52 (2.0)
43 (1.7)
188 (7.3)
11 (0.4)
7 (0.3)
12 (0.5)
9 (0.3)
84 (3.2)
1135 (43.8)
2590 (100)
Dematiaceous fungi
Cladosporium spp.
Curvularia spp.
Alternaria spp.
Bipolaris spp.
Ulocladium spp.
Exserohilum spp.
UIDF
Total ‑Dematiaceous fungi
Hyaline fungi
Fusarium spp.
Aspergillus niger
Aspergillus flavus
Aspergillus fumigatus
Aspergillus spp.
Penicillium spp.
Scedosporium spp.
Mucor spp.
Rhizopus spp.
Paecilomyces spp.
UIHF
Total – hyaline fungi
Grand total
UIDF: Unidentified dematiaceous fungi, UIHF: Unidentified hyaline fungi
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Vijayakumar, et al.: Airborne fungal allergens in sandstorm dust
Table 3: Incidence of commonly occurring fungal genera in this study and comparable with worldwide available reports
Rank Fungal genera (Percentage of incidence
in this study)
Predominantly reported in dust source
region (References)
Reported pathogenicity to allergies
I
II
Fusarium (21%)
Cladosporium (15.8%)
Allergen related disease
Potent allergen related disease
III
IV
Ulocladium (11.1%)
Aspergillus (10.9%)
Turkey [30], Taiwan [35]
Saudi Arabia [8], Egypt [29], Turkey [30], Iran [31],
Taiwan [35], Africa [37]
Saudi Arabia [8], Taiwan [35]
Saudi Arabia [8,9], Taiwan [36], Africa [37],
Mali [38], Mid Atlantic [39], Israel [40]
V
Alternaria (8.6%)
VI
Penicillium (7.3%)
VII
Curvularia (6.8%)
Saudi Arabia [8], Turkey [30], Taiwan [36],
Africa [37], Mali [38], Mid Atlantic [39], Israel [40]
Saudi Arabia [8], Turkey [30], Taiwan [36], Mid
Atlantic [39]
Taiwan [35]
No reports
Aspergillosis (Pulmonary allergic and
colonizing), Number of different allergen
related diseases in the immunocompromised
person
Potent allergen (common causative agent of
extrinsic asthma)
Potent allergen related disease
Allergen‑related disease
over the past 15 years. Although the focal point has been
the Middle East, with Iran and Kuwait the most affected,
meteorologists have recorded similar step-changes in activity
in some parts of Central Asia [2]. This global rise in incidences
makes the study of fungal spores in the generated dust a
subject of medical importance. Human health is adversely
affected by the exposure of sandstorm dust because the
dust carries numerous pollutants such as allergens and
microorganisms that can affect human health. Hence, there
is the need for detailed studies about the microorganisms
distributed the sandstorm dust, particularly fungi capable of
causing allergic diseases.
In the people gathering area (market), this locale showed higher
recoveries than with the educational campus (P = 0.0079).
With the market area, three sample sets (9 exposures) were
collected. Each of the samples was collected during busy periods
(4-6 pm) and the range of mold colonies was between 87 and
131 CFU/plate. These sampling sites will be affected by the
density of people and their increased activities. The numbers
of fungi recovered will be influenced by the people, for humans
continually shed microorganisms (including fungi) from the
outer surface of the skin [17], and this may account for the
increased number of fungal counts compared with the other
areas sampled.
Each geographical area will vary in the range and types of
microorganisms recovered. Overall, there are very few research
articles available about fungal genera in sandstorm dust
environment and there have been none reported relating
to the central region of the KSA. The location selected for
study was important in terms of geography. Al-Zulfi city lies
in the northern-central region of the Najd and to the south of
the Samnan Valley of Saudi Arabia. It is surrounded by sand
hills to its north and west and consequently Al-Zulfi city is
subject to regular sandstorms because of the city surrounded
by sand hills.
In this study, species of Fusarium (21%), Cladosporium (15.8%),
Ulocladium (11.1%), Aspergillus (10.9%), Alternaria (8.6%),
and Penicillium (7.3%) are predominantly present in all of
the sandstorm dust samples. This is similar to another study
conducted in the KSA by Kwassi and his coworkers, which
reported that the most abundant fungal genera in sandstorm
dust were Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium [8]. These
predominant genera were comparable with other research
reports relating to the Middle East countries of Kuwait and
Qatar [18,19]. For example, the most prevalent fungal genera
in airborne dust samples collected from the atmosphere of Taif,
KSA, were (31 genera and 70 species) Aspergillus, Drechslera,
Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, Phoma, and Stachybotrys [20]. In
a large series study carried out by Abu Dieyeh and his coworkers
in Zarqa desert region, Jordan, this reported that the highest
abundance of fungi were attributable to Cladosporium (29.1%)
followed by Fusarium (20%), Alternaria (7.7%), Ulocladium
(6.5%), Penicillium (4.2%), and Aspergillus (3.6%) [21].
With this study, 36 exposures of sandstorm dust samples were
collected in three different environments (an educational
campus, a people gathering area, and a recreational place).
These were compared to control (non-sandstorm) samples. The
total numbers of fungal colonies observed from the exposed
plates was 2590. Across the three locations, the numbers of
fungi were higher compared with the control, indicating that
airborne fungal populations are significantly elevated during
sandstorms (between 3 and 10-fold higher; P = 0.0066).
In relation to metrological factors many researchers have
reported that weather patterns cause significant effects on the
concentration of airborne fungal spores [1,16]; in this study, all
samples collected under conditions that were metrologically
assessed and it was noted that the wind velocity was >20 km/h
during each sandstorm episode. This fact alone appears to yield
more fungal airborne particles compared with the periods when
the control samples were collected.
30
While the genera were generally similar, our study showed
a higher proportion of species of Fusarium. This may be
reflective of a niche environment since incidences of fungal
genera will vary among regions based on the “true” microbial
community, or it could be a product of the sampling method,
agar selected, incubation time, and identification methods. For
example, the most well-known human pathogens associated
with desert dust storms and dust exposure originating from
dried bird faces are Coccidioides immitis and Histoplasma
capsulatum, respectively, yet these have been found only in the
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Americas [22,23] and none of these pathogens were reported in
this study’s findings. This reaffirms that desert environments
harbor diverse mycological communities and with this there
are regional variations.
Another interesting finding relates to the incidence of
dematiaceous fungi from the sandstorm dust, which was slightly
higher (at 56.2%) compared to hyaline fungi (43.8%). This ratio
is similar to another report [18]. The ratio is significant since
the dematiaceous fungi cell wall contains a melanin pigment
that contributes to the virulence of pathogens of humans as
well as those of food crops. In addition, the pigment enhances
fungal resistance to environmental damage. Several authors have
reported that dematiaceous fungal spores are highly prevalent
in hot climate atmospheres and they are more resistant to
desiccation [24] and ultraviolet radiation [25], compared with
hyaline fungi.
With individual predominant fungal genera, Fusarium was
the most predominant species in this study with the total
contribution of 21%. Notably, the Jordan study reported that
Fusarium species are found at a high incidence during the
month of May [21]. Given that our study’s sampling duration
covered the month of May, this could be the reason for the
high percentage recovery of this fungus. A further reason for
the prevalence relates to Fusarium being a well-known plant
pathogen and one that is frequently isolated from the soil.
Because sandstorm wind speeds, recorded in our study were
typically between 30 and 40 km/h, the wind will carry sand dust
materials from the agricultural surroundings of the city and this
may contribute to the high incidence of Fusarium species in the
atmosphere. Similarly, Fusarium species were reported as the
most abundant species in the atmosphere with the Tel-Aviv,
Israel study [26].
Cladosporium species was the second most predominant
species in our study findings, and this is similar to several
aeromycological studies from around the world [16,18,21,27,28].
Many reports from the countries nearby the KSA such as
Jordan [21], Qatar [18], Egypt [29], Turkey [30], and Iran [31]
have reported Cladosporium as the most predominant
dematiaceous fungi. This coincides with our research which
showed that at a percentage of 15.8%, Cladosporium are
frequently isolated from the air and soil. Many authors have
reported that the high percentage of Cladosporium may be
attributed by the size of spores and smooth wall which favor
and facilitate the transport of airborne spores in sandstorms.
A further factor favoring this fungus is due to the spores being
highly resistant to hot climates [18,32].
Another predominant dematiaceous airborne fungus is Alternaria
species. With our study, the incidence of this fungus was 8.6%.
Species of Alternaria are commonly reported as predominant
fungal contaminants from outdoor environments [33]. A large
sandstorm study conducted by Kwaasi et al., (1998) at Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia reported that the predominant fungal genera were
Alternaria, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium [8]. These findings
reaffirm what this study reports.
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According to the available reports from the various desert
regions worldwide, the fungal genera of Aspergillus, Alternaria,
Cladosporium, Curvularia, Fusarium, and Penicillium
isolated from the sandstorm dust sources are mild to potent
allergens [1,34-40]. During dust storms, a variety of airborne
microbial particles remain suspended in the fine dust and
some get blown over long distances and they can be forcibly
introduced into human orifices such as eyes, nostrils, and
ears [1,4,34]. Those particles which are <10 µm in size can
penetrate into the lungs and those of <2.5 µm can penetrate
into the subepithelial environment and can cause an allergic
response. The spore sizes of the predominant fungal general
reported in this study are less than 10 µm and thus they
could cause an allergic reaction. In addition, this study has
indicated that some of the most important allergenic fungal
spores were isolated from the sandstorm dust in high numbers.
These were Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Curvularia,
Fusarium, Paecilomyces, and Penicillium. Thus, based on size
and morphology, the fungi contained in sandstorm dust can
potentially cause allergenic respiratory problems with those
who are exposed to sandstorm dust. These tallies with a recent
study from the KSA, which reported that people exposed to a
sandstorm for duration of 24 min developed various respiratory
complaints including asthma [7]. The report from KSA
reaffirms that sandstorms carry numerous allergens through
the air and with 70% of Saudi Arabian asthmatics already
suffering from allergies, the risk of respiratory complications
due to sandstorms is extremely high. In one single sandstorm
in 2015 over 400 Saudi Arabian citizens were hospitalized due
to respiratory problems, of this one quarter of the admissions
was pediatric [34].
Based on the findings of this study that sandstorm dust carries
fungal spores which cause an allergenic response in humans, we
recommend that precautionary measures be taken to minimize
exposure to the sandstorm dust. In particular, preventative
recommendations should be made to outside workers and
for returning residents. Such measures should be based on
the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (dust
mask) as well as avoiding unnecessary exposure to the dust.
Various types of facemasks available to the general public can
protect against inhalation of dust, pollutants, allergens, and
pathogenic organisms. In addition, airtight goggles can be worn.
It is important for children with chronic respiratory problems
to avoid all outdoor activity during a sandstorm. Another
important recommendation is for people who wear contact
lenses. Here contact lens wearers should not expose their contact
lenses to dust and people should ideally wear eyeglasses (or
goggles) during a sandstorm. Where contact lenses are worn
these should always be kept clean otherwise the dust exposure
may lead to a corneal ulcer developing.
Limitations of the Study
The main limitation of the study was with the control samples.
These were collected for only one sample (3 exposures) per
location. This was because the control samples were used only
for comparisons and the main aim of the work was to analyze
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Vijayakumar, et al.: Airborne fungal allergens in sandstorm dust
the fungal allergens in sandstorm dust samples. A baseline for
non-sandstorm conditions can be developed through further
study.
11.
CONCLUSION
12.
This study concludes that sandstorm dust from the central
region of the KSA carries high numbers of fungal spores.
The predominant fungal spores are Fusarium, Cladosporium,
Ulocladium, Aspergillus, and Alternaria. The concentrations of
these fungi are high as compared with non-sandstorm periods.
Of the different types of fungi, dematiaceous fungi incidences
are higher than hyaline fungi. The predominant fungal spores
characterized can act as potent allergens and cause respiratory
allergic diseases. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the
first to highlight the distribution of fungal genera in sandstorm
dust from the Al-Zulfi region, the central region of KSA. This
study recommends that protective measures such as wearing
a mask to minimize the respiratory asthmatic diseases and
airtight goggles to protect the eyes. Finally, further studies of
aeromycological levels are needed to further understand the
microbial ecology, biogeography, and spread of fungal allergens
in sandstorm dust.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This research work was funded by the Basic Science Research
Unit, Deanship of Scientific Research at Majmaah University,
KSA (Year 1436-37).
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